New strategy to protect Cornish children from sexual abuse

Cornish school children are going to get more help to stop them falling victim to sex attacks. Police, social services and probation workers are launching a new strategy to crack down on exploitation of youngsters.

Every Duchy pupil will be given information on how to spot potential predators.

Detective Inspector Simon Snell from Devon and Cornwall Police said the effects can be life-changing.

“When it gets to me, and we need to mount a large scale investigation, that means as agencies and societies, we’ve failed. We actually need to make sure we stop these things happening at the very early stages, by intervening very early.

“It’s something that eventually, in my opinion, needs to be introduced into the curriculum, so that we’re teaching our people this is not acceptable, that it’s not normal. And if things happen like this to you, please feel you have the mandate to come and report those issues to us.”

At a conference in Exeter on Wednesday, a play about sexual exploitation was performed by students from Launceston College.